Jake Tapper to GOP Congressman: Why Didn’t Republicans Care This Much About 4,500 Deaths in Iraq?

[babylonsister]

Jake Tapper to GOP Congressman: Why Didn’t Republicans Care This Much About 4,500 Deaths in Iraq?
May 8, 2014 By Allen Clifton


To hear conservatives talk, you’d think that Benghazi was some massive coverup rivaling or worse than Watergate. While conservatives have had many conspiracy theories (my favorite being that Obama ordered armed gunships – already in the air – to stand down) they’ve all been repeatedly debunked. Now they’ve basically been reduced to trying to turn the talking points that were used by Susan Rice in the days immediately following the attack into some massive coverup that really nobody besides them cares about.

Oh, by the way, we’ve spent millions of the taxpayers’ money on these pointless hearings just so that Republicans can play partisan politics. Then again, Republicans have spent millions on pointless votes to repeal “Obamacare” so the party for “fiscal responsibility” seems to be eager to continue to prove their hypocrisy. Because nothing says “fiscal responsibility” quite like wasting millions of dollars playing pointless partisan politics.

And when it comes to Benghazi, it’s especially hypocritical of Republicans to fake this outrage over what happened there while mostly ignoring the over 4,400 Americans that died in Iraq because of George W. Bush’s lies.

Well, CNN’s Jake Tapper hit Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy, the chairman for the select committee for another Benghazi “investigation,” with the question many liberals have been asking conservatives.

“Republicans in general did not seem to have this appetite to find out what went wrong when incorrect intelligence was used to push the war in Iraq,” Tapper asked. “Do you see why some people might say, ‘Why is this more important than that war which resulted in the deaths of more than 4,500 American soldiers and countless innocent Iraqis?”

Exactly!

Shockingly, Gowdy didn’t answer the question.

more...

http://www.forwardprogressives.com/jake-tapper-gop-congressman-didnt-republicans-care-much-4500-deaths-iraq/

[Dawson Leery]

1. The genocide in Iraq is the doing of the GOP.

[randys1]

2. One could say genocide is all republicans are good for

[Plucketeer]

32. Yeah

and what a CRYING SHAME they can't initiate their own!

[FiveGoodMen]

41. Maybe we could interest them in some Kool-Aid

[Plucketeer]

42. Nah

if it involves the word "aid", they wouldn't go for it.

[FiveGoodMen]

43. !

[KittyWampus]

3. Can't stand Tapper, but it's a good question.

[billhicks76]

15. 911 911 911

They didn't care about ANYONE in this country who contributed to 3000 deaths on 911. Not one person fired. Can they be any worse evil scum? It's only about winning things for themselves and partisanship. Most of the GOP are essentially traitors.

[Wounded Bear]

28. Worse than that, they got promotions...

Last edited Fri May 9, 2014, 11:44 AM - Edit history (1)

Dame Condi was the National Security Advisor during the runup to 9/11. She was crowned SoS for her "efforts."

[AleksS]

30. Think about that for a second.

Think about that for a second.

The most egregious security breach in United States history. So what do we do to the person in charge of National Security when the most egregious security breach in US history happens? Promote her.

As always, IOKIYAR.

Everything is always OK If You Are Republican.

[Wounded Bear]

31. She sucked at that, too...

I'd be hard pressed to remember a single notable Foreign Service accomplishment in her term.

[billhicks76]

48. Logical To Promote

Thats how you shut them up. If one gets prosecuted they narc and the rest go down like dominos just like the drug war. They are purchasing silence. Prosecute Cheney and he will tell on his friends for there is no honor amongst thieves.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

77. And yet our Rice got the shaft over something waaaaay more trivial

In fact, McCain DEFENDED Condi Rice's elevation to SOS in 2005

[billhicks76]

83. Promoted To Shut Up

If one of any number of high level players in that organized crime were prosecuted they would narc the rest out. None of them would take the fall for their fellow immoral,selfish criminals.

[yurbud]

81. I wonder why the press and DC Dems are afraid to go there when it's so obvious.

[billhicks76]

84. Two Reasons

Last edited Tue May 13, 2014, 11:16 PM - Edit history (1)

1) Conflict Of Interests. Their bosses are essentially dependent on the cabal. Those who reside on the boards of directors for the big media firms also sit on the boards for the investment banks and military contractors and have a financial incentive to go to war and at the same time repress dissent at home while ramping up a police state to protect the .01%
2) Fear. They know the truth that many who are in power that resist die from unusual circcumstances. Also, they know people have an easier time believing there's multitudes of small lies. It's the big lies which are true that are too much a shock to people's belief systems and they will resist them out of self-preservation.

[yurbud]

85. I think 9/11 is far enough in the past now that the public could handle the truth

[billhicks76]

86. They Always Could

According to Zogby Polls, a majority of Americans and a super-majority of New Yorkers believe we were lied to by our government about 911 because they had a vested interest in allowing it to happen.

[Politicalboi]

4. He also should have asked

Why did the GOP cut embassy funding.

[hopemountain]

53. yes, why has no one shoved that in their

smug faces?

[calimary]

61. I'm actually quite shocked to hear this. It's something I ask multiple times every day!

Well how 'bout that. Next, I hope he asks why they never bothered to acknowledge or fill repeated requests for more embassy security funding. It's on THEIR heads that ANYBODY was killed because of that.

[onecaliberal]

5. Wow, that's a shocker.

Did someone slip him some truth serum before he went on air?

[Plucketeer]

33. Nah!

It was likely just a flaccid attempt at blowing some hot air into their "Fare un Balanced" byline. And he certainly wasn't really expecting an answer.

[think]

6. The next question should be

What did the GOP think would happen to America when they cut taxes for the wealthy while sending the nation to war?

[Thinkingabout]

7. Though I am not happy we lost American lives, republicans is not interested in trying to

find what can be done in the future to give more protection for our US facilities. Libya is a hot bed, out of control and dangerous. Is this investigation going to result in improving anything, very doubtful, just more waste of money trying to prove something which is not true.

[onecaliberal]

45. I agree completely.

If Republicans were serious about embassy security, fully funding security would be part of the discussion. In addition, republican defunding security would be part of the discussion about what happened to begin with.

[calimary]

62. Welcome to DU, onecaliberal!

Glad you're here! This is totally spot-on. It actually ALL routes back to THEM. No extra funding for embassy security because it was just so much more satisfying and loyal to the Almighty Agenda to keep on saying "no." And what DO they have to say about those 45-hundred American deaths in Iraq - as well as the eleven other embassy attacks in which Americans died - on dubya's watch? Again, NOTHING said about any of that. Not a freakin' peep.

[onecaliberal]

65. Thank you!

For those reason republicans have zero credibility on Benghazi and everything else. Their policy is designed to destroy and when they achieve the result time and again they point and say look what happened and act as though they're astonished with the result they planned the entire time. On issue after issue, the republicans represent on purpose failure. They met on inauguration night 2008 to plan the failure of Barack Obama. There is no path to presidential failure without dragging the country along. Al Queda and Bib Laden could never have hoped to achieve such destruction.

[mountain grammy]

8. Tapper should have kept asking it until the fool answered the question.

After all, how often does Tapper ask a real question?

[Firebrand Gary]

9. Whoa... K&R

[wheniwasincongress]

10. video

I'm surprised to see this from Tapper

[valerief]

11. They didn't care about Katrina and don't care about West Virginia either. nt

[quinnox]

12. Whoa, excellent question. Very rare to see that among tv "news people" these days

Probably they gave this guy a stern warning not to do it again after the show went off air.

"What the hell are you doing asking a real question like that??!"

[Snotcicles]

13. Jake Tapper said that?

Or was I thinking of Major Garrett?

[Boomerproud]

14. I have a headache.

The only good part was the CIA man's response to the Congresscritter. No regard for the truth. I wish I had his number so one of his staff would have to hear what I have to say to him.

[Ikonoklast]

22. Rep. Trey Gowdy.

Contact info:

Washington, DC
1404 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM Eastern time


He won't take e-mails unless you are a constituent, but, please, call away!

[Cha]

16. Jake!!! Ya trying to be a journalist or something?!

[Snotcicles]

18. He's lapsing? nt

[markmyword]

47. Thank you Jake!

Thank you, thank you Jake!

Finally someone in the media ASKED A QUESTION.

Let's hope his tough questioning will encourage other reporters to do the same. We can only hope.
Ever since Bush/Cheney ran for office, the reporters looked the other way and NEVER questioned ANYTHING they did.
I hold the media responsible for the election of Bush( stolen election), the war, Wall Street Criminals, NOT holding the Justice Department accountable for prosecuting the Bush administration WAR CRIMINALS, calling out the tea bagger candidates for the nuts they are.
Where is the press when you have these Republicans against gun control, women's rights, climate change, and voting suppression ? The list goes on and on.
So many questions, that should be asked on behalf of the American people.

[hopemountain]

54. almost fell out of my chair when i read this

[Cha]

57. Really, hope.. I think we all remember some past Jake episodes

that would warrant our surprise now!

[napkinz]

17. Bush was never held accountable ...

[Snotcicles]

19. Your choir preachin, you'll never reach your goal. nt

[napkinz]

21. ummmm ... what is my goal?

nt

[DhhD]

20. The CIA wrote that Gowdy has some facts wrong. Gowdy has joined the Circus!

[nxylas]

23. WAAAH! LIBRUL MEDIA BIAS!

This just goes to show how every media outlet except Fox News, and Rush Limbaugh, and The Blaze, and the Washington Times, and the New York Post, and the Wall Street Journal, and the Orange County Register, and the National Review, and Townhall, and Free Republic, and Little Green Footballs, and Powerline, and the Daily Caller and the Drudge Report is TOTALLY IN THE TANK FOR OBAMA!

[KansDem]

24. Or when the president did nothing when told America was under attack...

3,000 Americans perished.

[napkinz]

37. where was the outrage in 2001 on THAT 9/11? ...

[CrispyQ]

38. Great collection! Thanks!

Horsey rocks.

[napkinz]

69. thanks ... many more at --->

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024902613

[MaeScott]

25. What. The. Hell. Tapper, is that you? nt

[libodem]

26. Yep

. [img][/img]

[SunSeeker]

64. Exactly. 1,800 Amercians died in their own city on American soil as we watched on TV. nt

[libodem]

67. They skated

Now they are arrogant.

[liberal N proud]

27. A reporter asked a tough question of a republican?

I thought we would never see the day again when reports would ask republicans questions they didn't want to answer.

[Blue Owl]

29. K&R

[Plucketeer]

34. Hows about...

if the Dems put together a committee to investigate Iraq? The perpe-traitors are all still alive for interror-agation!

[smallcat88]

35. Everything Republicans do these days

is about misdirecting the attention of the American public. Direct attention away from the disasters of the Bush/Cheney legacy and make everything someone else's (Democrats) fault. It's their only hope of ever regaining the White House.

[Iliyah]

36. GOPers hate FEMA and hate anything that helps the American people

BUT are the very first to put our children in harms way - conflicts/battles/wars, but don't give a damn about the consequences "Veterans".

[Gothmog]

39. The media is catching on

Gowdy is not that bright and so he is unable to answer this question

[yellowwoodII]

40. Obviously

Most military people do not come from influential families. Few elites ever go to the military

[3catwoman3]

44. Gowdy did not answer?

Quick - fetch my smelling salts! I feel faint from shock (not).

[Vietnameravet]

46. Maybe he wants to avoid being another Chuckie Todd..

[markmyword]

50. Who Hired Them?

Would someone please tell me how Chuck Todd and David Gregory EVER got jobs as reporters?
As far as I'm concerned , they're not very good at their jobs.

How did they get to be so powerful? Who has pushed them ahead, why?

I thought reporters were IMPARTIAL when they reported a story. Today, we have reporters slanting the news to their political basis and SOCIALIZING with those same politicians they're reporting on.

Both Todd and Gregory should be thrown out of their jobs, for being incompetent.

[spanone]

49. i can only imagine how the iraq wounded must feel about this

and the families of the deceased

[JoePhilly]

51. Was this the ONION???

[Beacool]

52. Hear, hear!!!!

Bravo, Tapper!!!




Bunch of hypocritical bastards!!!

[snot]

55. K&R'd.

Last edited Sat May 10, 2014, 07:33 AM - Edit history (1)

[WinkyDink]

56. Ask about BEIRUT. GO AFTER ST.RONNIE. "Iraq" offers the "but..other countries...intelligence..."

excuse, BUT BEIRUT DOES NOT.

241 dead Marines.

[xocet]

66. I tried that with a Republican at the State Fair a few years ago. He got a really confused look

on his face when I said that Reagan had "cut and run" to use their favorite phrase at the time.

He then said/asked, "You're not a Republican, are you?"

He might just then have sensed a tinge of hypocrisy in his way of thinking - at least, that is what I would like to believe.

(Note: All this happened in the Republican Party tent that they set up every year at the State Fair.)

[sulphurdunn]

58. Republicans are like

commodities speculators. The bet on something bad happening, and they'll rig the political market any chance they get to make it bad.

[cynzke]

59. Gowdy is a Hypocrite.

Here's what this jerk said on Morning Joe last week"

"Even in a culture of hyper-partisanship, certain things…ought to be above politics, like the murder of our four fellow Americans, and whether or not you can trust what any administration – Republican or Democrat – tells you in the aftermath of a tragedy.”



What a joke this man is.

[tosh]

60. "Shockingly,

Gowdy didn’t answer the question."

Couldn't possibly predict that.

[TeamPooka]

63. *crickets*

[yurbud]

68. it wasn't "incorrect" intelligence, it was LIES

The career analysts gave them the straight dope, and Cheney said that wasn't good enough and sent them back to the drawing board.

when those results still didn't say what Cheney wanted, he took out all the caveats and qualifications to make it sound more certain.

I applaud Jack Tapper for going as far as he did though.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

73. The intelligence was so twisted and manipulated with Iraq

It all looked like balloon animals by the time they were done

[yurbud]

75. yep. And even so, no politician old enough to remember the Cold War should have fallen for it

[Proud Liberal Dem]

76. I was dumbfounded how many politicos went along with it

I could have told them it didn't make sense without even having any access to half their information. Of course, many of them felt like they had to go along with it politically back then- in the wake of 9/11/01. I have always thought that the first obvious (at least to me) sign that Iraq wasn't a growing menace should've been the recognition that they had virtually no control over its own airspace. The second obvious place it should have ended was the UN Weapons Inspectors being unable to find anything.

[yurbud]

78. with NONE of the intel, you could figure out Iraq was no threat to us.

During the entire Cold War, the Soviets didn't nuke us because it would result in their country being wiped out however much damage they did to us.

At best, they could hope to die knowing they did about as much damage to us as we did to them.

For any other country, to nuke us or give terrorists nukes that are detonated here makes about as much sense as trying to go on a shooting rampage in a police station. You make take out a cop or two, but you will certainly end up dead.

In the case of a country nuking us, they might have a few minutes or even seconds to gloat about taking out one or a couple of our cities before their whole country no longer existed.

No matter how evil the leader of any other country might be, none would take an action that would have 100% chance of resulting in national suicide.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

79. When I thought of countries that were threatening back then (and now)

I think more of NK. Iraq would NEVER cross my mind. I don't feel all that threatened by Iran either. Bush just wanted to get his war on somewhere in the ME and Iraq was clearly the easiest target. After all, we don't attack countries that actually HAVE WMDs.

[yurbud]

80. even North Korea is at worst playing chicken. It is also telling how we react to them compared to

other "threats."

Their leaders are clearly willing to risk more and more likely have the goods to follow through, but our government does the minimal necessary to respond to their provocations.

We take them about as seriously as Andy Griffith did Otis the Drunk.

"Are you drunk again, Otis? All right then, you know where you need to go."

[doxydad]

70. Ringleader of the Circus: Gowdy

Regardless of the final outcome, the Tea Hadists have an empty agenda, and Gowdy will look like a complete ass. Charles 'Count Chocula' Krauthhammer has already stated in effect that the Repubs are beating a dead horse. Apparently, they have found a fresher dead horse.

[AverageJoe90]

71. Because they don't actually respect the soldiers.....

And that Iraqis aren't white conservative Christians.....that's why.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

72. Not to diminish their deaths

But 7000+ ppl died under Bush, some of whom were tortured by our own military and some died in Embassy attacks and there was little or no Republican outrage, certainly not on the order of what we are seeing with Benghazi. Wake me up when Obama's record looks worse.

[DirkGently]

74. And of course Iraq involved massive, deliberate lies.

We're reduced to comparing actual mistakes to a huge, well-documented, coordinated campaign of lies and intelligence and press manipulation to even draw a comparison. Four deaths to 4,400. A trillion dollar war to one attack.

All because, somehow it's all okay when Republicans do it.

[IkeRepublican]

82. Without the blowjob...

Republicans don't have a thing.